State Education Department Releases Spring 2016 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Assessment Results

The State Education Department today released the results of the 2016 Grades 3-8 English language arts (ELA) and math tests. In ELA this year, the percentage of  students in grades 3-8 who scored at the proficient level (Levels 3 and 4) increased by 6.6 percentage points to 37.9, up from 31.3 in 2015. In math, the percentage of students who scored at the proficient level increased this year to 39.1, up one percentage point from 38.1 in 2015.

 

% of Students Proficient in Grades 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Statewide Combined Grades ELA	31.3	37.9	6.6
Statewide Combined Grades Math	38.1	39.1	1

 

“The Regents, Commissioner and I have worked hard to make New York’s assessments the best they can be for our students,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “I’ve always said that tests must be diagnostic, valid and reliable while providing timely and practical information to parents and teachers. We made important changes to the assessments this year and we’re going to continue to look at ways to make them even better moving forward. While it’s not possible to make direct comparisons of this year’s results to past years, I’m cautiously optimistic the changes we’re making will drive improvements in teaching and learning.”

“The Regents and I are committed to continuously improving our standards, our curriculum and our assessments,” State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said. “Since my first day on the job a little over a year ago, I’ve been listening to parents, teachers, school administrators and the public – seeking their expertise on how we can improve. We’ve taken their advice and made important changes to the exams. It’s an ongoing process, but better standards, better curriculum and better tests will result in better student outcomes.”                                                                                                                                 

2016 Results

SED made several changes to the 2016 ELA and math exams through a deliberate process. These changes included: starting with a new test vendor with a contract that required greater teacher involvement; reducing the number of questions on every grade 3-8 ELA and math assessments; and allowing students who are productively working to complete their exams.

In addition, SED released more test questions than ever before and earlier than ever before to support instruction. Further, when parents receive their child’s school reports later this summer, they will see that they are easier to understand and provide more information on how their child performed.

This year’s changes to the tests are part of a multi-year process that started with the Board of Regents’ Test Improvement Report in June 2015 and then solicited feedback from parents, teachers, administrators and students. The process included making recommendations as part of Governor’s Task Force and presenting the final changes to the Board of Regents in December 2015. SED implemented the changes in time for the spring 2016 exams.

While the content of the 2016 tests and last year’s tests are comparable and similarly rigorous, it is not possible to make direct comparisons of the 2016 results to prior years’ results because of changes to the tests this year. The 2016 results are valid and reliable indicators of student proficiency in the tested grades and subjects.

Big 5 City School Districts

In ELA this year, the percentage of all test takers in grades 3-8 who scored at the proficient level increased over last year in each of the Big 5 City School Districts. New York City’s proficiency increased by 7.6 percentage points to 38 percent. For the first time, New York City now meets the rest of the state in proficiency in English Language Arts

In the other Big 5 cities, student proficiency increased over last year as follows: Buffalo increased by 4.5 percentage points; Rochester increased by 2 percentage points; Syracuse increased by 2.8 percentage points; and Yonkers increased by 5.7 percentage points.

 

% of Students Proficient  in ELA Across All Grades, 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
NYC	30.4	38	7.6
Buffalo	11.9	16.4	4.5
Rochester	4.7	6.7	2
Syracuse	8.1	10.9	2.8
Yonkers	20.3	26	5.7

 

In math, the percentage of students in grades 3-8 who scored at the proficient level increased slightly over last year in most of the Big 5 City School Districts. New York City’s proficiency increased by 1.2 percentage points; Buffalo increased by 1 percentage point; Rochester’s proficiency declined by 0.2 percentage points; Syracuse increased by 1 percentage point; and Yonkers increased by 0.6 percentage points.

 

% of Students Proficient in Math Across All Grades 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
NYC	35.2	36.4	1.2
Buffalo	15.1	16.1	1
Rochester	7.4	7.2	-0.2
Syracuse	9.4	10.4	1
Yonkers	24	24.6	0.6

 

Black and Hispanic Students

In 2016, ELA proficiency across all grades for black and Hispanic students increased over last year, with increases seen both statewide and in New York City. Statewide, black students saw a 7.7-percentage-point increase in those achieving proficiency while Hispanic students experienced a 7.1-percentage-point increase. In both cases, the increases were greater than those seen by white students, who experienced a 5.6-percentage-point increase statewide. As a result, the achievement gap in ELA that separates the proficiency of black and Hispanic students from their white peers closed slightly statewide.

 

In New York City, black students scoring at the ELA proficiency level increased 7.6 percentage points; Hispanic students increased 7.4 percentage points; and white students increased 7.6 percentage points.

 

Statewide % of Students Proficient  in Grades 3-8 ELA
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Asian/Pacific Islander ELA	52.5	59	6.5
Black ELA	18.5	26.2	7.7
Hispanic ELA	19.7	26.8	7.1
American Indian/ Alaska Native ELA	23.8	29.9	6.1
White ELA	40.4	46	5.6
NYC % of Students Proficient  in Grades 3-8 ELA
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
NYC Asian/Pacific Islander ELA	52	58.8	6.8
NYC Black ELA	19	26.6	7.6
NYC Hispanic ELA	19.8	27.2	7.4
NYC American Indian/ Alaska Native ELA	28.7	34.9	6.2
NYC White ELA	51.3	58.9	7.6

 

 

Proficiency on the math exam statewide and in New York City also increased for black and Hispanic students in math this year, however, less than in ELA.

 

 

Statewide % of Students Proficient  in Grades 3-8 Math
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Asian/Pacific Islander Math	66	66.5	0.5
Black Math	21.3	23	1.7
Hispanic Math	24.5	25.7	1.2
American Indian/ Alaska Native Math	30.7	29.5	-1.2
White Math	49.7	50	0.3
NYC % of Students Proficient  in Grades 3-8 Math
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
NYC Asian/Pacific Islander Math	66.8	67.2	0.4
NYC Black Math	19.1	20	0.9
NYC Hispanic Math	23.7	24.3	0.6
NYC American Indian/ Alaska Native Math	34.3	32.2	-2.1
NYC White Math	56.7	57.8	1.1

 

 

English Language Learners

Statewide in ELA, proficiency increased for both “Ever ELLs” (students who received ELL services prior to but not during the 2015-16 school year) and “Never ELLs” (students who never received ELL services). Ever ELL students performing at the proficiency level increased by 9 percentage points this year while Ever ELLs outperformed all grade 3-8 test takers combined, statewide.

In math, Ever ELL students scoring at the proficiency level increased by three percentage points while Never ELL students experienced 1.0-percentage-point increase in proficiency.

 

% of Students Proficient in  Grades 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Current ELLs ELA	3.9	4	0.1
Ever ELLs ELA	30.5	39.7	9.2
Never ELLs ELA	33.9	40.8	6.9
Current ELLs Math	12.7	11.5	-1.2
Ever ELLs Math	40.6	43.6	3
Never ELLs Math	40.7	41.7	1.0

 

Students with Disabilities

Across the state, the percentage of students with disabilities who scored at the proficient level increased in both ELA and math. While a greater percentage of students with disabilities reached proficiency in 2016, their proficiency on the state assessments continues to be lower than the proficiency of general education students. 

 

% of Students Proficient in  Grades 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Student with Disabilities ELA	5.7	7.9	2.2
Student with Disabilities Math	10.6	10.9	0.3

 

 

Charter Schools

The percentage of charter school students who scored at the proficient level on the ELA exam across grades 3-8 increased this year, more so for students attending charter schools in New York City. Statewide, the proficiency of students in charter schools increased by 12.8 percentage points on the ELA exam while in New York City, proficiency increased by 13.7 percentage points.

 

In math, student proficiency increased less. Statewide, students in charter schools scoring at the proficient level increased by 3.9 percentage points on the math exam; in New York City, proficiency increased by 4.5 percentage points.

 

% of Students Proficient in  Grades 3-8
		2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Charter Schools Combined Grades ELA		27.5	40.3	12.8
NYC Charter Combined Grades ELA		29.3	43	13.7
Charter Schools Combined Grades Math		41.5	45.4	3.9
NYC Charter Combined Grades Math		44.2	48.7	4.5

 

Early Grade ELA Improvement

Student proficiency on the ELA exam went up the most in grades 3 and 4 this year. Statewide, the percentage of third graders who scored at the proficient level increased by 10.9 percentage points over last year while fourth graders experienced an 8.1-percentage-point increase.

 

% of Students Proficient  in ELA in Grades 3-8
	2015	2016	Percentage Point Change
Statewide Combined Grade 3 ELA	31	41.9	10.9
Statewide Combined Grade 4 ELA	32.7	40.8	8.1

 

While one reason for the increases cannot be pinpointed, a variety of factors may have contributed. In response to feedback received from stakeholders across the state, the Department made a number of changes to the Grades 3-8 assessments this year including reducing the number of test questions on every assessment and allowing students who were working productively to complete their exams without time constraints. Further, teachers have had an additional year of experience with, and professional development in, the State’s higher learning standards. That added comfort and experience may have resulted in greater levels of student proficiency.

 

Not Tested Count and Test Refusal Count

 

Historically, SED only tracked the number of students not tested for an invalid, unknown reason. These students are categorized as “not tested” students.  The not tested count includes students who were absent during the test administration period as well as students who refused the test. The count does not include students who were medically excused.

 

According to state data, approximately 78 percent of eligible students participated in the 2016 Grades 3-8 ELA and math tests, which is relatively flat compared to the previous year’s 80 percent. About 22 percent of eligible test takers did not participate in these tests and did not have a recognized, valid reason for not participating (not tested), again remaining relatively flat with 20 percent in 2015.

This year SED, in collaboration with the Regional Information Centers, improved its data collection methods and can now provide Test Refusal data.  This year, the test refusal rate was approximately 21 percent, which is relatively flat with last year. A Test Refusal file by school district will be available online later today at:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs.

 

% of Students Statewide Not Tested & Test Refusal
2015 Not Tested	2016 Not Tested	2016 Test Refusal
20%	22%	21%

Department data shows about 50 percent of the test refusal students this year did not participate in 2015.

In addition, the 2016 test refusal students were much more likely to be from low-need or average-need districts; more likely to have scored at Level 1 and Level 2 in 2015 if they took the tests; less likely to be economically disadvantaged; less likely to be a student with a disability; and much less likely to be English Language Learners.

Like last year, this year’s proficiency rates represent the 900,000 students who actually took the test. There is no statewide measure of knowledge and skill for those students who refused the test.

School and District Results

A summary of the test results, as well as individual school and district results, will be available later today at: http://data.nysed.gov.

Video and Audio Available

Video and Audio of Commissioner Elia are available for download.

Audio: http://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/2016-3-8-test-results-audio.mp3

Video: http://www.nysed.gov/video/2016-grades-3-8-ela-and-math-test-results

-30-